Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Fall Foods and Fashions

A co-worker designed this outfit for the Illinois Library Association's Project Runway event last week in Chicago. I got to sew the book covers together, make the jacket and add pages to the skirt. The model is a lovely young person who works at the library. It was a fun evening, and got me inspired to sew clothes again. Other than this and some charity quilt projects, I've really only been doing blankie repair...

So Fall is here, and that brings one of my favorite flavors into the foreground - pumpkin. Readers of this blog may remember my disastrous forays into making pumpkin pie. I had a delicious pumpkin cake at Nordstrom over the weekend and am determined to copy it. I will peruse several recipes before attempting, so I don't have another nasty surprise like with the pumpkin pie recipes.

First of course, I went to my Southern Living Cakes book for their Pumpkin Cake:

Pour batter into 2 well greased 8-inch round cake pans. Bake at 350 for 30 - 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes: remove from pans, and cool completely. Spread Spiced Whipped Cream between layers and on top of cake. Sprinkle nutmeg over top of cake, if desired. Yield: one 2-layer cake.

This sounds ok, but it's got a lot of work and steps. I don't like recipes that use part of one ingredient now and more later - too hard to remember not to dump it in. Also I can never remember how to make buttermilk, or else don't have vinegar on hand.

I'm reading Fleece Navidad by Maggie Sefton - a great knitting mystery series. Plus that title was irresistible.

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About Me

Amy Alessio unleashes her extensive vintage cookbook and craft pattern collection on the unsuspecting public through her presentations and this blog. Mystery author Molly MacRae guest blogs with an unusual recipe every First Monday.